The title explains the past week. E started kindergarten on Wednesday. He did have a bit of a tough time at drop off the first day but walked out with a smile. He didn't say too much about it though. The second day he seemed a bit unsure at drop off but went with no problems. Again, he left with a smile but still not too many details. By Friday he was a pro at drop off! When I asked him what he wanted me to tell daddy about his day, he said "School was great and really fun. And guess what else!" Me: "What?" "School rocks!" I couldn't help but smile a big smile and feel as if I were welling up a little. I'm just so proud of him! He also told me about getting to decorate a person cut out of paper. I'm guessing they were supposed to be making themselves? It seems like something that you would have kids do at the beginning of the school year.
As for M, this week has been about getting her back on schedule. She had been waking at night for long periods of time. So on Monday I woke her from nap a little earlier than normal. Didn't help. On Tuesday I gave her only an hour and a half to nap. Still didn't help. On Wednesday I skipped the nap completely. The kids and I went to DuPage Children's museum so that M wouldn't fall asleep. Surprisingly, the only time she fell asleep in the car was the last 5 minutes before getting home. That night she slept! So Thursday I was not sure if I should put her down for nap or not. I decided to put her down but only for an hour and a half again. That night she was up again. So Friday after lunch the kids and I headed over to Monkey Joes so M wouldn't sleep. We had a great time racing down the slides and wrestling. We had a great time giggling and laughing as we rolled around. Times like that are one of the many reasons I am a nanny!
I am curious to find out Monday morning how the weekend went for M and her sleeping. Who knows, if she has to start giving up the nap, there may be more outing to post about. I was sad to think that we wouldn't get to have as many now that summer is over. We will see.
Also, starting this week or next week (depending on how much time I have for this this weekend) M and I are going to start learning while E is at school in the mornings. And of course, we will be going to music class and hopefully some other new classes. Also, since E liked the siblings class so much at MyGym, they are going to keep doing it in the afternoons! I'm happy that he won't have to miss out on it.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Ice cream party and bubbles
The week before the kids left for Australia with their parents, I wanted to have an ice cream party with the kids. I picked a nice warm day and invited some friends over to enjoy ice cream and play outside in the water. Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures. No pictures of the ice cream part of the party. I can tell you that they did have fun. I guess that was all they talked about that night. I'm glad that E got to play with a few friends from school, one he hadn't seen all summer. M of course enjoyed having her friend K there to play dolls with.
The boys' favorite part was the water balloons. That was my least favorite part because they took forever to fill for only two minutes of play. Luckily a few other adults were there to help watch the kids while I was inside filling balloons. Thank you guys for your help that day!!
I also wanted to include a few pictures from a different day when we were outside playing with bubbles.
The boys' favorite part was the water balloons. That was my least favorite part because they took forever to fill for only two minutes of play. Luckily a few other adults were there to help watch the kids while I was inside filling balloons. Thank you guys for your help that day!!
I also wanted to include a few pictures from a different day when we were outside playing with bubbles.M, popping the bubbles.
I tried forever to get these pictures but I finally got two really good pictures of E blowing bubbles. This was my attempt at photography.
I tried forever to get these pictures but I finally got two really good pictures of E blowing bubbles. This was my attempt at photography.
Monkey Joes
The kids LOVE this place and we didn't make it there enough over the summer (because of the nice weather). So we picked a rainy day and met some friends.
Here is M about to come down the slide. It actually took a little bit of coaxing that day. For some reason she was going through a fear of sliding by herself which she hadn't had in the past.
Monkey Joe made an appearance that day. A first for us. M loved seeing him and followed him everywhere. When he bent down to pick her up, I thought she was going to loose it. However, she was excited about it. Here she is waving with him.
We were also excited to see that they had put in a new inflatable. However, I was sad to see that our favorite one was gone. I don't think the kids noticed. E really like the new pirate ship!
Here is another favorite of his. He enjoys sliding down on his belly and hitting the "bumpers" on the side.
M is really turning into a big girl. Look at her climb. However, after I took this picture, I climbed up there to slide down with her. 
Here is M about to come down the slide. It actually took a little bit of coaxing that day. For some reason she was going through a fear of sliding by herself which she hadn't had in the past.
Monkey Joe made an appearance that day. A first for us. M loved seeing him and followed him everywhere. When he bent down to pick her up, I thought she was going to loose it. However, she was excited about it. Here she is waving with him.
We were also excited to see that they had put in a new inflatable. However, I was sad to see that our favorite one was gone. I don't think the kids noticed. E really like the new pirate ship!
Here is another favorite of his. He enjoys sliding down on his belly and hitting the "bumpers" on the side.
M is really turning into a big girl. Look at her climb. However, after I took this picture, I climbed up there to slide down with her. 
My Gym
During the summer the kids took a siblings class at My Gym. I think E liked this much better than having to sit at the front not doing anything while M got to play. I think he really enjoyed it. Seriously, look at the joy on his face while he jumped on the trampoline!
M usually explored everything in the gym.
I think E really liked being in a class with his sister. This particular day he was being especially sweet to her. While they were waiting for their turn for gymnastics, he just leaned over and gave her a big hug. Lucky for me, I got proof!
Walking on stilts.
M does the "big kid gymnastics" too! She sits very patiently waiting for her turn. Sometimes, she is more patient than the "big kids." And usually the teachers don't mind her being a "big kid." I say usually because there was one time that one of the teachers gave a bit of an attitude when she joined in just like she did every other week. I'm not sure why we got attitude that day and I was a bit annoyed about it.
Doing flips on the high bar.
More "big kid" gymnastics.
Riding on the big swing of the week, the "water bed."
At the end of every class, they do surprise time and each of the kids gets to play along with a special surprise. This week it was squishy balls.
M usually explored everything in the gym.
I think E really liked being in a class with his sister. This particular day he was being especially sweet to her. While they were waiting for their turn for gymnastics, he just leaned over and gave her a big hug. Lucky for me, I got proof!
Walking on stilts.
M does the "big kid gymnastics" too! She sits very patiently waiting for her turn. Sometimes, she is more patient than the "big kids." And usually the teachers don't mind her being a "big kid." I say usually because there was one time that one of the teachers gave a bit of an attitude when she joined in just like she did every other week. I'm not sure why we got attitude that day and I was a bit annoyed about it. 
Doing flips on the high bar.
More "big kid" gymnastics. 
Riding on the big swing of the week, the "water bed."
At the end of every class, they do surprise time and each of the kids gets to play along with a special surprise. This week it was squishy balls. Here the kids are holding them between their knees.
Look at this big girl!
Look at this big girl!
Butterfly House
Peck Farm Interpretive Center in Geneva has a Butterfly house. They are located at:
4038 Kaneville Rd.
Geveva, IL 60134
They are open daily 9-5 (noon- 5 on Sunday)
I was unable to find what months they have butterflies but I do know that they close the butterfly house when it rains. The house is free but they do ask for a donation of $2 per person or $5 per family. If it is going to be hot, I suggest getting there early because this is outside just in a screened in house. It does get hot in there.
I forgot my camera that day but I did get a few good pictures with my phone. Enjoy!
E and M looking at butterflies.
If there is water, E will find it! And M will follow!
After we left the butterfly house, we went to see what else there was at Peck Farm. They had gardens, a silo that you can go inside and climb to the top of, a lake with a dock, and of course, Peck House. Peck House had a hands on nature room that the kids spent a good amount of time in. M's favorite was the stuffed animals and books. We all read Stellaluna with the stuffed animals. E's favorite was the "please DO touch" table. It had things from nature to look at and touch such as feathers, a turtle shell, clay molds of animal foot prints etc.
4038 Kaneville Rd.
Geveva, IL 60134
They are open daily 9-5 (noon- 5 on Sunday)
I was unable to find what months they have butterflies but I do know that they close the butterfly house when it rains. The house is free but they do ask for a donation of $2 per person or $5 per family. If it is going to be hot, I suggest getting there early because this is outside just in a screened in house. It does get hot in there.
I forgot my camera that day but I did get a few good pictures with my phone. Enjoy!
E and M looking at butterflies.
If there is water, E will find it! And M will follow!
After we left the butterfly house, we went to see what else there was at Peck Farm. They had gardens, a silo that you can go inside and climb to the top of, a lake with a dock, and of course, Peck House. Peck House had a hands on nature room that the kids spent a good amount of time in. M's favorite was the stuffed animals and books. We all read Stellaluna with the stuffed animals. E's favorite was the "please DO touch" table. It had things from nature to look at and touch such as feathers, a turtle shell, clay molds of animal foot prints etc.Here is E looking at deer antlers with the magnifying glass.
And now he is the deer!
And now he is the deer!
Brookfield zoo
In mid July we went to Brookfield zoo (yes I am just now getting to this a month later). The family has a pass to the zoo and did you know that they have caregiver passes?! A family can add a caregiver to their membership (for a fee I'm guessing however I'm not sure). I even used my membership card while the family was on vacation to get in free and get free parking!
Anyway, back to our trip. The kids got to ride the carousel. As you can see in the picture, M wouldn't let go of me the whole time. At least I was able to move back enough to quick take her picture.
We got to watch the grizzly bear swim in the new Great Bear Wilderness exhibit.
And we got to see the polar bear walk around and look for the food the zookeeper just put out for him. The kids think he was eating grapes.
And when everyone was hot, they got to cool off in the little splash area outside the penguin house. I think this is as wet as M got.
Anyway, back to our trip. The kids got to ride the carousel. As you can see in the picture, M wouldn't let go of me the whole time. At least I was able to move back enough to quick take her picture.
We got to watch the grizzly bear swim in the new Great Bear Wilderness exhibit.
And we got to see the polar bear walk around and look for the food the zookeeper just put out for him. The kids think he was eating grapes.
And when everyone was hot, they got to cool off in the little splash area outside the penguin house. I think this is as wet as M got.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Free Children's admission to Brookfield Zoo
For those of you who don't have memberships to Brookfield Zoo, today through Wednesday children are free. Adults are $13.50 and parking is $9. For those who do have a membership or don't mind paying the price, you might want to wait until Thursday or Friday because I'm sure it will be well, a zoo! Just wanted to share for those interested in going before school starts again. I can't believe that school starts next week!
Friday, August 13, 2010
I'm back
I know it has been a while since I posted anything about the kids and I. Right now they are in Australia visiting family and I am off for three weeks. I just got back from a nice trip with my mom and sister to see a friend in North Carolina. I do still have some things to post about the last two weeks before the family left and I will get to that before they come back. I'm still in vacation mode so I can't even remember all of the things we did but I know we went to the zoo, a butterfly house, the pet store, and had an ice cream party. So watch for posts about those in the next week.
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